Ministry of Acolyte

On Sunday, July 31st at the 11:00 am Mass, Bishop Stika will install longtime Sacred Heart parishioner, Jerry Bodie, into the Ministry of Acolyte. The term acolyte is used in many Christian denominations but is set apart in the Roman Catholic church as an instituted ministry and is reserved for men 21 years of age or older. Below are the words the Bishop uses at the installation that describes the role of the Acolyte:

Dear son in Christ, as a person chosen for the ministry of acolyte, you will have a special role in the Church’s ministry. The summit and source of the Church’s life is the Eucharist (Holy Communion), which builds up the Christian community and makes it grow. It is your responsibility to assist priests and deacons in carrying out their ministry, and as special ministers to give holy communion to the faithful at the liturgy and to the sick. Because you are specially called to this ministry, you should strive to live more fully by the Lord’s sacrifice and to be molded more perfectly in its likeness. You should seek to understand the deep spiritual meaning of what you do, so that you may offer yourself daily to God as spiritual sacrifices acceptable to him through Jesus Christ.

In performing your ministry bear in mind that, as you share
the one bread with your brothers and sisters, so you form one body with them. Show a sincere love for Christ’s Mystical Body, God’s holy people, and especially for the weak and the sick. Be obedient to the commandment which the Lord gave to his apostles at the Last Supper: “Love one another as I also have loved you.”

In the absence of a Deacon, the acolyte may also prepare the altar and purify the sacred vessels. Jerry will also serve as a Master of Ceremony at various parish and diocesan liturgies. I want to thank Jerry for being open to respond to God’s call to service in the Church and I am excited to welcome Jerry into this important ministry for the Church. I ask for your prayers for Jerry as he prepares to receive this ministry.